The traditional method behind the treatment is to accentuate the flow of “qi”, which is believed to be the bodies natural flow of energy. Today qi is used more like a metaphor and acupuncture is one of the most well known, and most widely used treatments in a complementary fashion.

How is acupuncture carried out?

Acupuncture is carried out by hundreds of small needles being inserted into special points in the body, these points are known as acupuncture points and are located along meridian lines where qi is supposed to flow likes streams, rivers and seas. In the body there are hundreds, if not thousands of acupuncture points, all of which are related to different medical conditions and used for alleviating different symptoms. The points are found by an acupuncture therapist feeling for pulses in the body, mostly around the organs, this will help them determine which acupuncture points to use.

What is acupuncture used for?

Acupuncture has been used for a wide variety of medical conditions for a few millennia, today we use acupuncture for medical conditions like asthma, high blood pressure, pain, headaches, digestive problems and women’s menstrual problems.

Are there any adverse effects from acupuncture?

Overall acupuncture is a very safe treatment, especially when carried out by a qualified medical professional. When carrying out acupuncture it is important to make sure that needles are sterilized so infection does not occur. After treatment many people feel effects differently, while some may be energetic and vibrant, others may be drowsy and tired, for this reason it is important to make sure that you do not drive or operate heavy machinery.

When inserting needles into the body, the medical professional will be very careful, because if care is not taken then damage to tissue, muscle and organs can occur. If a female is pregnant then special care need to be taken as there has been proven scientific research that shows some acupuncture points can induce labor.

Summary

There are many acupuncture practitioners throughout the world who can carry out the treatment correctly, if done correctly a patient may feel positive effects to their medical condition. With acupuncture there is a lot of uncertainty over its strength to act as a medication or treatment that can resolve a persons condition, but even if it cant treat a condition it does act as a great placebo because of its effects on a persons levels of serotonin and endorphins.

Even if you’re unsure about the possibilities of acupuncture resolving your medical problems, it can be a relaxing experience if nothing else.

Acupuncture has been shown to work and there are other related procedures that are offshoots of the practice. For example, electro-acupuncture is commonly used for pain relief or the prevention of pain all together. Electro-acupuncture, as the name implies, involves the use of very tiny electrical impulses that are introduced into the body by way of acupuncture needles. The power used is approximately a few micro amperes however the current’s frequency can vary anywhere from 5 to 2,000 Hz.

General pain relief tends to use lower frequencies while the higher ones are saved for surgery (such as abdominal surgeries). The first documented use of electro-acupuncture that was deemed a success was in 1958 when it was used for a tonsillectomy that was performed in China. In China it is very common for electro-acupuncture to be used as a method of surgical analgesia. Two other common procedures are sonopuncture (which is acupuncture using sound weaves and lasers) and ear acupuncture (otherwise known as auriculotherapy).

Moxibustion is another related procedure of acupuncture and this is defined as “the “treatment of diseases by applying heat to Acupuncture points.” Acupuncture and moxibustion work very well when used together and their benefits to a person’s health are tremendous. For this reason the two natural practices are considered to be complementary. The most common reasons that moxibustion is used is to help bring relief for ailments such as bronchitis, bronchial asthma as well as arthritic disorders and a number of different kinds of paralysis.

Cupping is another related procedure. Cupping involves applying stimulation to a variety of acupuncture points and this is done by applying suction by way of a wood, glass or metal jar and in this way a partial vacuum is designed. Cupping allows for a certain amount of blood congestion to appear at the site in question and this allows for deep stimulation. This technique is especially used for soft tissue injuries, low back pain, sprains as well helping to drain fluid from the lungs when a person is suffering from chronic bronchitis.

Acupressure is another common procedure. Basically this is acupuncture minus the needles. The acupuncture points are stimulated with the fingers or a tool that has a “hard ball shaped head.” Reflexology (or zone therapy) is another form of acupressure. In this case the feet (and in some cases, the hands) are stimulated in order to help treat diseases or disorders that exist in the internal organs of the body.

It is essential that you do thorough research on acupuncture and all of its related procedures before you go ahead and begin any particular type of treatment. Speak with qualified health professionals to gain as much information as you can concerning each one of these natural health practices.

Modern medicine looks at the condition a person has and tries to find a way of alleviating the problem within the area it is located, this differs greatly to ancient Chinese medicine where it does not matter what condition a person is suffering with, and the location of the condition is, because the body is treated as one entity that happens to have different functions within it.

Acupuncture treats the body as one entity and works by channeling the body’s natural energy, which the ancient Chinese called Qi. Qi is found in rivers and streams flowing through the body, so if someone has a condition in one part of the body the Qi can be channeled in different areas of the body to help the ailment.

In ancient Chinese culture the reason why a person can resolve their condition through manipulating the flow of Qi, with acupuncture, is because they believe that conditions are due to a deficiency of Qi in the area concerned.

To channel Qi effectively a therapist carrying out acupuncture would have to know the thousands of acupuncture points. Acupuncture points are areas of the body that important flows of Qi run through, these are normally located on meridian lines related to main organs in the body like the heart, if these points are utilized correctly the Qi can act as a medication to resolve the condition while also promoting a feeling of well being in an individual.

To access the acupuncture points in the body, acupuncture works by inserting little needles. To feel the full benefits of acupuncture it is quite normal for hundreds of needles to be inserted in many different parts of the body, it is important to note at this juncture that no pain is felt from the needles being inserted.

How old is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is one of the oldest of the ancient Chinese medicines that is still used today. Until recently the history of acupuncture went back three millennia to a thousand years before the birth of Christ, this was found through many hieroglyphs that were found within dwellings in China. Recently there has been a major shift in the history of acupuncture as a five thousand year old mummy was found bearing tattoos of acupuncture points that are used to treat conditions the mummy was found to be suffering with.

The acupuncture that is used to treat many different conditions today, is the same treatment that was used two thousand years ago during the time of Daoism philosophy, the only difference is the material that is used to make the needles used.

Who can carry out acupuncture?

Acupuncture cannot be carried out by anyone; it is a medical art form that has been passed down through generations. Today people attend college to gain qualifications in holistic medicine so they can carry out this ancient treatment.

- When most people think of acupuncture, they think about someone sticking needles into various points on their body. However, thanks to the merging of modern day technology and the techniques of yesteryear, acupuncturists may work to activate acupuncture points on the body through several methods. Lasers are sometimes used to activate acupuncture points, as well as magnets, electrical currents, and even certain herbs.

- While acupuncture is a type of medical procedure, it has its roots in religion. Taoists found the acupuncture points by meditating and discovering where energy radiated throughout the human body.

- While acupuncture used to be performed only be people who were exclusively trained in the art, more and more medical physicians are realizing the benefits that acupuncture can offer and are becoming certified in acupuncture in order to treat their patients with the highest degree of care possible.

- Many people shy away from acupuncture because they fear that the needles will be too painful when they are inserted. What these people fail to realize, however, is that the stainless steel needles that are used in acupuncture are nothing like the needles that are used to draw blood or administer shots. Medical needles are wider in diameter, since they need to be hollow so that fluids can be injected into the body or blood can be taken out. For that reason, the insertion of an acupuncture needle is much less painful than getting a shot.

- While there are thousands of different points on the body which may be used in acupuncture, there are twelve main yin and yang points, which are located within the hands and the feet. These points can be activated in order to treat many different problems that the body may be having.

- In addition to treating physical symptoms that someone may be having, acupuncture can also be used in order to help to get over mental problems. Anxiety, stress, and drug detoxification can be eased by a visit to an acupuncturist.

- Most states within the United States provide certifications for those who wish to practice acupuncture, allowing you to ensure that the treatment that you will be receiving lives up to various board requirements.

Now that the process of acupuncture has become a little demystified to you, you are better suited to considering whether or not the procedure is the right thing to do for you.

There are also two more, one for the spine and the other representing the conception vessel of the abdomen. This is how it began, but times have added more knowledge to the acupuncturist’s abilities and now there are more meridians. Each one has some points that are used commonly while other acupuncture points on the meridians are used less frequently as they are completely dependent on what is being treated for the patient. Most times the need falls on the fourteen original lines. No matter which points are used the reasoning is always the same. Acupuncture will rebalance the body’s energy and so restore it to health.

The points on the meridian are given names based on which meridian they are on, the number of points on their meridian, and two letters, they also have a Chinese name. For example the point on the back of a person’s hand that is the webbing between the index finger and the thumb is referred to as number four of twenty as well as L14 or Hegu. This point is used in pain relief. It can also be used help relieve constipation or sore throats. This point is on the Large Intestine Meridian.

If it is depression you want to help then the point to use is on the Heart Meridian. It is the spot that is on the outside of either wrist and is called point seven of nine as well as HT7 or Shenmen. This point will assist with problems related to depression, anxiety, forgetfulness, sleep disorders, bad dreams and irritability.

The point behind the knee is on the Urinary Bladder Meridian and can help with back pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and hip or leg pain. On the Spleen Meridian, the point barely above the ankle on the inside of the leg is what the acupuncturist would use to relive problems related to the digestive system or to the hormonal system. It can help with irregular periods or impotence.

Sometimes these points are used together to work through problems that might need a little more help. The Conception Vessel Meridian would be the place to start with the problem of bedwetting by using several points along its line. But it would also use ones from the Urinary Bladder, Spleen, Kidney, Lung and Stomach Meridians. Therefore when a child came into for acupuncture treatment for their bedwetting the points used would likely be CV6, CV4, BL23, SP6, ST36, LU7, and K13. There are so many points that can do so much to help.

Facial acupuncture is a painless procedure that renews not only the face but the body as well. This is because it can erase lines and eye bags making you look younger. At the same time, it can also help clear up pimples and acne.

For this to work, fine needles are placed in acupuncture points on the eyes, face and neck to stimulate the person’s natural energies. As a result, this also improves your facial color.

Anyone can try facial acupuncture because it is painless and it has proven to reverse the signs of aging. However, if you are pregnant, suffer from the colds or flu, have acute herpes or an allergic reaction, it is best to wait until this has passed.

But before anyone can try facial acupuncture, they first have to be evaluated by the acupuncturist. This person will evaluate your age, lifestyle and diet. If everything looks good, then you will probably do an average of about 12 to 15 treatments. More could be done if your skin tends to sag, manifest jowls or have droopy eyes.

Facial acupuncture treatment needs to be done twice a week for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. For those who can’t make two sessions in a week, they can opt for the 1 treatment that will last 90 minutes.

After the regular sessions, it is advisable to go back for follow up treatment. It should be every 2 weeks for the next 2 months and then once a month later on.

Aside from needles, most clinics use herbs in the form of masks, poultices and moisturizers. Before you use it, check with your doctor to make sure there is no allergic reaction to any forms of medication that you are taking.

After the first facial acupuncture treatment, you will usually seen an increased glow to one’s complexion which the Chinese say an increased Qi or blood flow to the face. It becomes more open, the wrinkles start to disappear and the skin appears more toned.

In the 5th or 7th treatment, this becomes more evident as your face looks more relaxed as though you just came from a vacation.

The end result is that you will look and feel 5 to 15 years younger but of course this depends on how well the patient has taken care of themselves outside the confines of the clinic.

To sum things up, facial acupuncture can do for you. It can eliminate fine lines and reduces wrinkles, improve your overall facial color and add luster to the skin, relaxes tension in the face and furrows in the brow, brightens the eyes and reduce dark circles and puffiness, improve muscle tone for sagging skin, enhance your natural radiance in the skin and eyes, slow the aging process within, promotes overall health and well being as well as relaxes and revitalizes the entire body.

All you have to now is find a clinic that offers this service to customers so you will soon look radiant to other people.

Article Stars: http://articlestars.com

Another type of procedure that is similar to acupuncture in its theories is known as acupressure, and even fewer people know about it than acupuncture. In this article, we’ll attempt to shed some light on acupressure so that you can better understand the process and be able to determine whether or not acupressure is right for you.

While acupressure is similar to acupuncture in many ways, it is not without its differences from the familiar practice. As with acupuncture, acupressure puts an emphasis on the usage of various acupuncture points that are found throughout the body. There are twelve main points that are focused upon, six ‘ying’ points and six ‘yang’ points which are located within the hands and the feet. As opposed to acupuncture, which involves the insertion of stainless steel needles into the acupuncture points, those who practice acupressure instead use physical pressure by pressing their hands, elbows, or devices onto the acupuncture points to create pressure.

There are a range of things that can be treated with acupressure, and there has been much noted about the efficiency of acupressure when it comes to helping to achieve weight loss and keep the pounds off. Others tout the use of acupressure as a significant method of helping to achieve relief from recurring cases of back pain.

While there is not much of a scientific basis for the procedure, many of the practitioners believe that acupressure is as efficient as it is at relieving pain because the pressure that they create may help to release analgesics located within the body such as endorphin in order to ease the pain and create the good feelings that it can create. Some even employ the usage of devices that maintain a constant level of pressure at certain acupuncture points in order to achieve long-term results.

For instance, there are acupressure wristbands that are available that promise to help when it comes to the relief of motion sickness when worn. As with acupuncture, there have not been many clinical studies associated with acupressure and therefore it is hard to determine exactly how beneficial the treatment may be when it comes to relieving symptoms. Those who practice acupuncture are often also quite experienced in acupressure as both of the types of treatment require an adept knowledge of the specialized acupuncture points that are located throughout the body.

Acupressure is a type of alternative treatment that may prove to be beneficial but it is definitely not something that you should rely on exclusively when it comes to overcoming serious illnesses. A combination of western medicine and alternative treatments such as acupuncture or acupressure is often advised in order to achieve the most complete results possible for your ailment.

Acupuncture is associated with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for a fact that acupuncture has its roots in ancient China.

How Acupuncture Works

Perforating fine filiform needles into certain points in the body is a technique used for acupuncture to alleviate pain or for therapeutic purposes. These points, according to TCM, are located where the qi or the life energy flows. Meridian is the term used for areas of energy flow.

It is in the twelve main meridians where most acupuncture points exist, which match up the vital body organs such as the kidney, liver, and lungs. There are various ailments can be treated through acupuncture. Popular in the West are the acupuncture for the treatment of painful conditions like arthritis and headache as well as acupuncture for weight loss treatment.

This ancient Chinese healing art was bombarded with numerous criticisms from scientists and Western doctors arguing that there is no anatomical or histological basis for acupuncture points.

But somehow studies demonstrate that acupuncture is effective for a number of conditions despite being considered by some as quackery. In the 20th century, a rigorous scientific research was carried out but still acupuncture was not well understood when it comes to its effectiveness.

A balance between yin and yang in the body entails good health in TCM. These are opposing forces that work together in synergy. Yin and yang can be likened to dark and light, male and female, or high and low. Femininity is associated to yin while masculinity is for yang.

The free flow of blood and qi are the most important aspects of TCM in acupuncture. Since qi has no equivalent term in English, it is hardly translated but more or less, it can be considered as a form of life energy.

In certain parts of the body, qi is sometimes excessive or deficient and at times qi in the body has stagnation. Draining the excess of qi, promoting its free flow, and replenishing it if there is a deficiency are the objectives of acupuncture.

To wrap it all, the healing art of acupuncture is remarkable. Its effectiveness in the treatment of various conditions can´t be denied even for scientists regardless of being alleged by some as quackery.

If you are suffering from a particular ailment, you can consider acupuncture for a 100% natural and safe treatment. For centuries, acupuncture has been practiced for good reason.

Get free articles in various topic for your website or blog content as much as you want at Article Directory: http://www.articlecompilation.com

Learn more about acupuncture treatment. Discover the best acupuncture allergy treatment available.

Acupoint therapy allows for the stimulation of a variety of acupuncture points not with needles but by way of a therapy stick. Both acupressure and shiatsu are similar to acupoint therapy in that they utilize the practice of massage whereas acupuncture solely makes use of needles. Although many people espouse the value of acupoint therapy, scientifically speaking there is no evidence to support its effectiveness. The country that makes most use of this form of natural therapy is Sweden.

Acupoint therapy starts from the premise of traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Traditional Chinese Medicine teaches that the body has a collection of what is known as meridians. Each individual meridian has its own special function and each meridian has its own points and these points correspond to a variety of areas on the body as well as the system of energy.

According to acupoint therapists half of the meridians of the human body correspond to yin and half correspond to yang. The half that correspond to yin relate to the parasympathetic nervous system and this is associated with a reduced level of blood pressure, a slower heart beat, the release of stress from the muscles and a deeper feeling of relaxation.

The meridians that correspond to yang are associated with increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system, which is to say a faster heart beat, a higher level of blood pressure, tension and stress as well as more as opposed to less contractions taking place in the muscles. The main goal of acupoint therapy is to bring the two nervous systems, the parasympathetic and the sympathetic (which is to say the Chinese yin and yang) to a point where they can be in balance as well as perfect harmony with one another.

The therapy stick that is used in acupoint therapy looks a lot like an implement you would see at a dentist’s office although at its end it has a small ball. This ball has a diameter of approximately a few millimetres. In one version of acupoint therapy, the therapy stick is used to stimulate along a specific meridian line. It works by way of vasodilation which then causes the stimulation.

To test this out on yourself to see how it works simply take any blunt object that is pointy (such as for example a match stick) and run it along your inner forearm and watch carefully about what happens. It will take a few minutes but you should eventually see a red line appear where you traced the line along your arm. If you see the line then this is known as vasoconstriction. There is also another version of acupoint therapy and in this instance, individual points on the skin are stimulated with the therapy stick as opposed to any particular length along the meridian.

Being dated back to at least 3000 BC, acupuncture ranks among the oldest forms of health care known to man. It may even date back as far as the Stone Age, according to expert theories. Many people have heard of this form of medicine, but what exactly does it all mean? How does this form of treatment actually contribute to our health with such things as meridians? It’s time to look deeper into the subject of how different meridians affect your body.
What Exactly is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is used to balance energy levels and eliminate blockages, which may be preventing your health from achieving its optimum state. The energy system of the body can be manipulated with the use of very fine acupuncture needles. This energy system flows through the body, and can be accessed via a variety of 500 specific acupuncture points found along what is called the acupuncture meridians. These points are related to every system and function of the body, housing both positive and negative energy.
The Meridians
Consider the Yin and Yang to be opposite sides of the same coin. When in balance, your health and happiness are at their optimum point. When unbalanced however, so is life and health. The 500 acupuncture points are found in what are called meridians, which run along your arms and legs.
When making the association between Yin and Yang, picture the two sides of a coin as mentioned above. On the one side, the Yin holds responsibility for negative aspects, such as darkness, passivity, coldness, wetness and the feminine. The other side would be the Yang, which holds responsibility for all positive aspects such as brightness, activeness, dryness, heat and masculine. You will also find that each of the main meridians house their own elements of Yin and Yang.
The locations of the twelve meridians are:
Along the inside of your arms from your body to your fingertips – Yin
Along the outside of your arm from your fingertips to your face – Yang
Along the outside of your leg from your face to your feet – Yang
And along the inside of your leg from your feet to your body – Yin
These 12 main meridians affect the following organs:
1. Lungs
2. Large Intestine
3. Stomach
4. Spleen
5. Heart
6. Small Intestine
7. Urinary Bladder
8. Kidney
9. Pericardium
10. Triple Warmer – This meridian affects the thyroid and the adrenal glands which regulate your metabolism and affect your immune system and has a profound affect on your stress reaction.
11. Gall Bladder
12. Liver
The Yin side includes lungs, heart and pericardium with the arm meridians, while the Yang side of the arm houses the meridians for the small intestine, triple warmer and the large intestine. As for the leg meridians, the Yin side covers spleen, kidney and liver, while the Yang side covers stomach, gall bladder and bladder.
You are probably already aware that each of your organs plays essential and valuable part when it comes to overall health and optimization in the functioning of your body. When even one is not working at optimal levels, or becomes unbalanced or blocked, you may notice significant changes in your bodily and emotional state.
Acupuncture and the practice of balancing the body’s energy through accessing meridians is a long standing healing method for a reason – it works.

Article Source: http://www.a1-articledirectory.com

Find your own balance. Serenity Empowerment Coach, Deborah Lindholm, shows you how to awaken your Inner Power Source to live an empowered life. Download free pre-recorded telecasts, your “5 Simple Steps To Get What You Really, Really Want” report & more at www.serenitymatters.com/1-free.html